Lakes of Italy & Switzerland with Venice by Rail | Self Guided Tour | 10 Days

DAY 1:                                   VENICE 

Arrive in Venice Airport or Railway Station, followed by a shared transfer by boat to Venice city centre, to reach the hotel of your stay. Rest of the day at disposal to discover Venice and its beautiful Lagoon. Overnight in Venice. (B) 

 
DAY 2:                                   VENICE 
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then spend the morning at leisure exploring Venice. In the afternoon, enjoy a 30-minute gondola ride with app-based commentary (included). Overnight in Venice. (B) 

 
DAY 3:                                   VENICE – MILAN 
After breakfast at your hotel, make your way to Santa Lucia Station to board the high-speed train to Milan. Upon arrival, enjoy free time to explore the city at your own pace. Overnight in Milan. (B) 

 
DAY 4:                                   MILAN – LAKE MAGGIORE 
After breakfast at the hotel, make your own way to Milan Centrale Railway Station to catch a train to Stresa, Lake Maggiore. After checking in, enjoy the rest of the day exploring the charming streets and taking in the stunning lake views. Overnight in Stresa. (B) 

 
DAY 5:                                   LAKE MAGGIORE – BORROMEAN ISLANDS – LAKE MAGGIORE 
After breakfast at the hotel, spend the day exploring the renowned Borromean Islands, a small archipelago that owes its fame to its three main islands: Isola Madre, Isola dei Pescatori and Isola Bella. Begin with Isola Madre, the largest of the three, known for its 16th-century palace and beautiful English-style botanical gardens. Continue to Isola dei Pescatori, the only island permanently inhabited and open to the public. Finally, visit Isola Bella, famous for its stunning Italian garden and grand palace. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight in Stresa. (B) 

 
DAY 6:                                   LAKE MAGGIORE – LOCARNO – LUGANO 
After breakfast, enjoy a private transfer from Stresa to Domodossola. This comfortable drive allows you to relax and enjoy the stunning mountain landscapes as you make your way toward the Swiss border. From there, board the scenic Centovalli train to Locarno. Once you arrive in Locarno, continue by train to Lugano. Upon arrival, the afternoon is free to explore the city at your own pace. Overnight in Lugano. (B) 

DAY 7:                                   LUGANO 
Start your day with breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy free time to explore Lake Lugano at your own pace. Overnight in Lugano. (B) 

 
DAY 8:                                   LUGANO – COMO 
After breakfast, take the early morning train from Lugano to Como San Giovanni station, the journey taking approximately 30 minutes. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring the town. Overnight in Lugano. (B) 

 
DAY 9:                                   LAKE COMO 
After breakfast at the hotel, spend the day exploring the stunning stretch of Lake Como between Como and Bellagio. Use the included boat ticket to hop off at the lakeside villages along the route and discover their individual character, architecture and waterfronts. Allow plenty of time to enjoy Bellagio before catching the ferry back to Como. Overnight in Como. (B)

DAY 10:                                 COMO – MILAN
Breakfast at the hotel. Make your own way to Como San Giovanni Railway Station and board the regional train to Milano Centrale Station. End of services. (B) 

ACCOMMODATION (OR SIMILAR): 

STANDARD CLASS: 

VENICE: Hotel Carlton Capri  

MILAN: Hotel Flora 

STRESA: Hotel Boston

LUGANO: Hotel Zurigo 

COMO: Hotel Posta Design 

SUPERIOR CLASS: 

VENICE: Hotel Amadeus  

MILAN: Hotel Nyx  

STRESA: Hotel La Palma  

LUGANO: Hotel City Lugano  

COMO: Hotel Barchetta Excelsior  

INCLUDES:  

• 9 night’s accommodation in your choice of standard or superior class hotels
• Meals as per itinerary
• Shared arrival boat transfer in Venice from Venice Marco Polo Airport or Venice Santa Lucia Railway Station to designated stops in central Venice.
• 30-minute shared gondola ride in Venice, with commentary available via a downloadable smartphone app in English, Spanish, Russian or French.
• High-speed train ticket (2nd Class) from Venice Santa Lucia to Milan Centrale.
• One-way regional train ticket (2nd Class) from Milan Centrale to Stresa. Seat reservation not included.
• Return public boat ticket to the Borromean Islands, including entrance to Isola Bella and Isola Madre.
• One-way private transfer by car/minivan from your hotel in Stresa to Domodossola Railway Station.
• Scenic Centovalli Railway ticket (2nd Class) from Domodossola to Locarno, including seat reservation. Panoramic seats are not guaranteed.
• One-way train ticket (2nd Class) from Locarno to Lugano.
• One-way train ticket (2nd Class) from Lugano to Como San Giovanni. Seat reservation not included.
• One-day Lake Como public boat pass, allowing free circulation with departure from and return to Como.
• One-way train ticket (2nd Class) from Como San Giovanni to Milano Centrale. Seat reservation not included.

EXCLUDES: 

• Transfers from/to the rail stations are not included except where specifically reported
• Tourist city tax not included, to be paid on the spot
• Extras, tips, porterage and everything not expressly listed as inclusion is not included and to be paid on the spot
• Lunches and dinners
• Optional tours and experiences

THINGS TO NOTE:  

• Accommodation is subject to change without notice.
• Hotel rooms may not be available for check-in before 2:00 p.m.
• City taxes are not included and are to be paid directly to the hotel.
• Class of rail ticket is based on 2^nd class unless the optional upgrade to 1^st class has been selected at the time of booking.
• The itinerary of the tour and the days of excursions may be modified for technical reasons. In any case, all visits and excursions mentioned on the itinerary will be guaranteed or replaced by similar ones.
• Name changes are not permitted for these itineraries. A name change may result in the loss of ticket availability and/or other services and/or an increase in fares.
• The package price is based on 2026 train fares. Should the train operator increase its fares, the package price will be adjusted accordingly.